Weekend Treats | Kaju Katli | Cook With Ambi

Diwali is going to be a little different this year, so why not celebrate at home by making some delicious Kaju Katli.
This scrumptious mithai would be the perfect treat this weekend for Diwali and with this super easy recipe, you can make it yourself and enjoy this sugary goodness in the comfort of your own homes.

Ingredients:
430g cashew nuts
200ml water
320g white caster sugar
1 tsp ghee (plus extra for greasing)
½ tsp cardamom powder
1/2 tsp saffron
Edible gold or silver leaf (optional)
To make 40-50 pieces, depending on how small or large you cut them (half this ingredient list for 20-25 pieces)

Method:
Pulse the cashews in a food processor. I found that doing this in small batches worked best. Grind until you get a powder, making sure you don’t over grind (otherwise you’ll end up with cashew butter, which we don’t want!).
Add sugar and water to a large non-stick pan and keep on low-medium heat. Stir to combine.
Once the sugar has melted, allow it to reach a gentle rolling boil.
After 1 minute, turn the heat to low, add the cashew powder and mix well. Keep stirring.
After a minute or so, add the ghee, cardamom powder and saffron.
Keep stirring for 10 minutes until the mixture thickens and it leaves the side of the pan. To check if the mix is ready, place a little on a plate and let it cool a bit. You’re all good to go if you can roll a ball out of it with your thumb and index finger.
Grease a piece of parchment with a little ghee and transfer the kaju katli mixture onto it. Allow it to cool for 4-5 minutes.
Now it’s time to knead the dough! You need to do this while it’s still warm. I found the easiest way to do this without burning my fingers is to use the parchment as a barrier between the warm-hot mixture and my hands. Knead for 2-3 minutes to smooth the dough. If you feel like it’s a little dry, sprinkle a little water and knead further.
Grease the rolling pin with a little ghee and roll out to around 5mm in thickness. Take your time to get it even.
Once cooled, apply the silver/ gold leaf (don’t worry about covering it all), it can be a little fiddly! But it will look amazing!
Cut into diamond shapes by cutting vertically, then on the diagonal. And enjoy!!

The kaju katli can be stored in an airtight or stainless steel container for up to 10 days (if they’re not all gone before that!)

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